Poisonous Plants and Berries

This is a complete A–Z reference to the poisonous and non-poisonous plants most commonly found in gardens across the United States. For every plant we set out whether it is toxic to humans, dogs, cats, horses and livestock — because a plant that is perfectly safe to eat yourself can still be dangerous to your pets.

Use the quick-reference table to check a plant at a glance, then read its entry below for the detail: which part of the plant is toxic, what the symptoms look like, and how serious it is.

Jump to a plant

Acorn · Angel Trumpet · Azalea · Bay Leaves · Begonia · bougainvillea · Cacti · Calla Lily · Carnation · Cattails · Chrysanthemum · Daffodil · Dahlia · Daisy · Dandelions · Daylily · Dogwood Berry · Elderberry · Elephant Ears · Eucalyptus Leaves · Ferns · Geranium · Green Tomatoes · Hibiscus · Hollyhocks · Hosta · Hyacinth · Hydrangea · Juniper Berry · Lilacs · Marigolds · Mistletoe berry · Morning Glory (Ipomoea) · Mulberry · Nandina Berry · Orchids · Peace Lily · Peony · Petunias · Poke Berry · Poppy · Rhododendron · Roses · Succulents · Sumac · Tiger Lily · Tulip · Venus Fly Traps · Wisteria · Yew Berry · Yucca · Zinnias

Quick reference: what is toxic to whom

Each verdict comes from that plant’s entry below. Where our own write-up did not cover a particular animal, we checked it against the ASPCA’s toxic and non-toxic plant database and said so in the notes.

Plant	Humans	Dogs	Cats	Horses / livestock
Acorn	⚠️ Mildly toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Angel Trumpet	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Azalea	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Bay Leaves	✅ Non-toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Begonia	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
bougainvillea	⚠️ Mildly toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic
Cacti	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic
Calla Lily	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Carnation	✅ Non-toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic
Cattails	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic
Chrysanthemum	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Daffodil	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Dahlia	✅ Non-toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic
Daisy	⚠️ Mildly toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Dandelions	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic
Daylily	✅ Non-toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Dogwood Berry	⚠️ Mildly toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic
Elderberry	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Elephant Ears	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Eucalyptus Leaves	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Ferns	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	❌ Toxic
Geranium	✅ Non-toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic	❌ Toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic
Green Tomatoes	⚠️ Mildly toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic
Hibiscus	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic
Hollyhocks	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic
Hosta	✅ Non-toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Hyacinth	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Hydrangea	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Juniper Berry	⚠️ Mildly toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic
Lilacs	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic
Marigolds	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic
Mistletoe berry	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Morning Glory (Ipomoea)	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Mulberry	⚠️ Mildly toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic
Nandina Berry	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Orchids	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic
Peace Lily	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Peony	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Petunias	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic
Poke Berry	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Poppy	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Rhododendron	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Roses	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic
Succulents	⚠️ Mildly toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Sumac	❌ Toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic
Tiger Lily	✅ Non-toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic	❌ Toxic	⚠️ Mildly toxic
Tulip	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Venus Fly Traps	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic
Wisteria	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Yew Berry	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Yucca	✅ Non-toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic	❌ Toxic
Zinnias	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic	✅ Non-toxic

Every plant, A–Z

Related

Poisonous bugs and garden creatures — centipedes, millipedes, spiders, ladybugs and more.